Method for setting parameters in welding devices

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for setting a parameter for external control units ( 30 ) of a welding device ( 1 ), whereby the welding parameters can be selected and set using different control elements ( 27 ) and indicating elements ( 28 ) on the welding device ( 1 ). The aim of the invention is to provide a method of this type with which a flexible adaptation of setting options of external components ( 29 ) connected to the welding device ( 1 ) is made possible for the most varied applications or welding processes. To this end, a control program ( 32 ) is activated in the welding device ( 1 ), whereby the selected welding parameter for setting or adjusting is selectively assigned to an external control unit ( 30 ) located on an external component ( 29 ) so that this welding parameter is set or changed when the external control units ( 30 ) on the external components ( 29 ) are activated or adjusted.

The invention relates to a method for setting a parameter for externaloperating units of a welding apparatus, wherein the welding parametersare selectable and settable using different operating elements anddisplay elements provided on the welding apparatus.

Various setting options have already been known in welding apparatus inwhich the most different parameters can be set from the weldingapparatus. In addition, it is feasible to change certain fixedly definedparameters via external components connected thereto. However, thisinvolves the disadvantage that it is frequently necessary to changespecial parameters for given welding processes or applications in amanner that such changes will only be feasible via the welding apparatusor by exchanging the component for the welding processes or applicationin question.

EP 0 903 195 A1 describes a system for the remote-controlled setting,controlling and adjustment of functions of welding apparatus, whichenable the user to control welding parameters such as, e.g., the weldingcurrent strength or welding wire feed without any change of location. Tothis end, the welding parameters are set or changed via a remote controlwirelessly connected with the welding apparatus. In doing so, the usermay select among predetermined settings and preset combinations. Onaccount of such preset combinations, the method and welding apparatusare, however, highly inflexible, since it is only feasible to select andchange preset welding parameters via the remote control.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,555 A discloses a remote control for weldingapparatus, in which a remote control detecting special variables suchas, e.g, the welding current is inserted between the workpiece and theelectrode holder. From the remote control, signals allocated to thedetected variables are furter transmitted to a control circuit via thethe welding cable and used to adjust predetermined welding parameters.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,994 A describes a welding apparatus to which variousexternal operating units can be connected. The respective externaloperating unit such as, e.g., a finger switch or a foot switch willautomatically be recognized by the welding apparatus. Predeterminedwelding parameters permitted by the operating unit are allocated as afunction of the external operating unit recognized, and the allocatedwelding parameter will be changed accordingly as a function of theposition of the operating unit, for instance the foot switch. In thesystem according to that document, however, very specific weldingparameters are always fixedly allocated to the external operating unitsto be envisaged.

The invention is based on the object of providing a method for setting awelding parameter for external operating units of a welding apparatus orwelding plant, by which a substantial improvement of the operatorinterface will be achieved and the flexible adaptation to the mostdifferent applications or welding processes, of the setting options ofthe external components connected to the welding apparatus will befeasible.

In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved in that acontrol program is invoked in the welding apparatus and the selectedwelding parameter for setting or adjustment is thereby selectivelyallocated to an external operating unit provided on an externalcomponent, such that said welding parameter is set or changed uponactivation or adjustment of the external operating unit provided on theexternal component. A very high flexibility is, thus, ensured in theoperation of the welding apparatus, since the user is able to allocatethe most different welding parameters to the external components, andvary or set the same from the external component, according to demand.Hence, the most relevant parameters for the most different weldingprocesses can always be allocated to an external component. Externalcomponents may, in particular, comprise a welding torch, a remotecontroller, a control panel, a robot control, etc. Basically, it isknown from the prior art that parameters fixedly defined by externalcomponents may be varied or set in a manner that several differentcomponents are used for the most different welding processes orapplications in order to obtain the optimum setting option. This is nolonger required with the solution according to the invention, since theuser is now able to freely allocate to the external component one orseveral of the desired welding parameters. It is, thus, feasible to usealways the same external component for the most different applicationsor welding processes. From said external component, any other weldingparameter can be set and changed according to demand.

In an advantageous manner, the control program is invoked via anoperating element provided on the welding apparatus and the weldingparameter is allocated to the external operating unit provided on theexternal component by the renewed activation of an operating elementprovided on the welding apparatus.

It is, of course, also feasible to allocate several welding parametersto several external operating units provided on one or several externalcomponents. To this end, the control program is invoked several times ina row and the desired welding parameter is each allocated to therespectively desired external operating unit provided on therespectively desired external component.

The allocations of the welding parameters to the external operatingunits of the external components provided in the welding apparatus arepreferably stored by a control and/or evaluation device provided in thewelding apparatus. As a result, the allocations of the weldingparameters are available to the user and may be changed by the user atany time.

In order to realize the flexible parameter allocation, an evaluation ofthe signals received from the external operating units of the externalcomponents is advantageously effected by the control and/or evaluationdevice of the welding apparatus, and these signals are allocated to therespective welding parameters and changed accordingly. The value of therespective welding parameter can also be displayed on the externalcomponent.

Any changes of the external operating units of the external componentare transmitted to the welding apparatus, preferably via control lines,optical fibers, bus systems or by radio.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by wayof an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a welding apparatus, and

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a input and/or output device ofthe welding apparatus.

FIG. 1 depicts a welding apparatus 1 or welding plant to be used forvarious welding methods such as, e.g., MIG (metal—inert gas) welding,MAG (metal—active gas) welding, TIG (tungsten—inert gas) welding orelectrode welding. It is, of course, feasible to use the solutionaccording to the invention with a power source or welding currentsource.

The welding apparatus 1 comprises a welding current source 2 includingan output part 3, a control and/or evaluation device 4 and a switchingmember 5 associated with the output part 3 and the control and/orevaluation device 4, respectively. The switching member 5 and thecontrol and/or evaluation device 4 are connected with a control valve 6arranged in a supply line 7 for a gas 8, particularly a protection gassuch as, for instance, CO₂, helium or argon or the like, between a gasreservoir 9 and a welding torch 10.

In addition, a combined feed and withdrawal device 11 can be activatedby the control and/or evaluation device 4, whereby a welding wire 13 isfed via a feed line 12 from a feed drum 14 into the region of thewelding torch 10, as usually happens with MIG/MAG welding. It is, ofcourse, possible to arrange the feed drum 14 in the welding apparatus 1,particularly in its basic housing, as is known from the prior art.

The current for building up an electric arc 15 between the welding wire13 and a workpiece 16 is supplied via a supply line 17 leading from theoutput part 3 of the power source 2 to the welding torch 10 and thewelding wire 13, respectively, wherein the workpiece 16 to be welded islikewise connected with the welding apparatus 1 and, in particular, thecurrent source 2 via a further supply line 18 so as to cause an electriccircuit to build up above the electric arc 15.

In order to provide cooling of the welding torch 10, the welding torch10, via a cooling circuit 19, can be connected with a fluid reservoirand, in particular, water reservoir 21 with a flow control 20interposed, whereby the cooling circuit 19 and, in particular, a fluidpump used for the fluid contained in the water reservoir 21 is startedas the welding torch 10 is put into operation, thus effecting cooling ofthe welding torch 10 and welding wire 13, respectively.

The welding apparatus 1 further comprises an input and/or output device22, as is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2, via which the mostdifferent welding parameters or modes of operation of the weldingapparatus 1 can be set. In doing so, the welding parameters set via theinput and/or output device 22 are transmitted to the control and/orevaluation device 4, which in turn will subsequently activate theindividual components of the welding apparatus 1.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the welding torch 10 is furtherconnected with the welding apparatus 1, or welding plant, via a hosepackage 23. In the hose package 23, the individual lines leading fromthe welding apparatus 1 to the welding torch 10 are arranged. The hosepackage 23 is connected with the welding torch 10 via a prior-artconnection device 24, whereas the individual lines contained in the hosepackage 23 are connected with the individual contacts of the weldingapparatus 1 via connection sockets or plug-in connections. In order toensure an appropriate tension relief of the hose package 23, the hosepackage 23 is connected with a housing 26 and, in particular, the basichousing of the welding apparatus 1 via a tension relief means 25.

In the known welding plants or welding apparatus 1, the setting of theparameters for a welding process is directly effected from the weldingapparatus 1 via the input and/or output device 22. To this end, severaloperating elements 27 in the form of keys, rotary switches,potentiometers, integral emitters etc. are arranged on the input and/oroutput device 22, via which the user can select the individualparameters and vary the same. Furthermore, the input and/or outputdevice 22 comprises display elements 28 where the values or set valuesor actual values of the just chosen parameter are displayed.

In addition, it is feasible in most cases to set or vary some of thewelding parameters via external components 29 and, in particular, viathe welding torch 10. To this end, at least an external operating unit30 and display element 31 are, for instance, arranged on the weldingtorch in a manner that the user will be able to observe the respectivevalue of a parameter via the display element 31 and change saidparameter via the operating unit 30. Yet, in doing so, the user can onlychange a fixedly defined welding parameter, or several of the fixedlydefined welding parameters, at the welding torch 10. If it is requiredto change other parameters, the user will have to set said furtherparameters directly on the welding apparatus 1. So far, it has beenpossible to allocate only specific, fixedly defined parameters to theexternal components.

With the solution according to the invention, it is now feasible, byinvoking a control program 32 called parameter allocation program or“E-P program”, to realize a flexible allocation of the parameters fromthe welding apparatus 1 to external components 29 and, in particular,the welding torch 10. The user is, thus, able to allocate at least onedesired welding parameter to at least one external component 29 in orderto enable said welding parameter to be subsequently adjusted from theexternal component 29. This constitutes a considerable enhancement ofthe welding process, because the user is now able to freely allocate, asa function of the respective application or welding process required,the welding parameters adjustable via the external components 29. Thus,the optimum adaptation of the external components 29 to the mostdifferent welding processes or applications is ensured. It is, ofcourse, possible to allocate any desired number of parameters to one orseveral external components 29.

To this end, it is merely necessary for the user to start the controlprogram 32 upon activation of the welding apparatus 1 and select therespective welding parameters on the welding apparatus 1 for one orseveral external components 29. The control program 32 is invoked by theactivation of an operating element 27 provided on the welding apparatus1 or on the power source 2 and, in particular, on the input and/oroutput device 22. After this, any desired welding parameter is set orselected and subsequently allocated to an external operating unit of anexternal component 29 such as, for instance, a welding torch 10, aremote controller, a control panel, a robot control, etc. by the renewedactivation of an operating element 27 for the setting or alteration of aset value. This welding parameter can then be set and/or adjusted viathe external operating unit of the external component 29. The user is,thus, able to set or change the welding parameter via the respectiveexternal component 29 upon execution of the control program 32 and theselected allocation.

In doing so, the call-in of the control program 32 may be realized invarious known ways such as, for instance, by menu control, actuation ofa respective operating element 27 or the like. In the input and/oroutput device 22 represented in FIG. 2, a display element 33 “Tac” isschematically illustrated, which indicates to the user the activation ofthe control program 32. Using the operating elements 27, the user maysubsequently select the respective welding parameters on the weldingapparatus 1 and allocate them to an external component 29. Theindication of the activation of the control program 32 may, however,also be effected via the usual display elements 28.

Another option is to execute the control program 32 several times in arow, or select several parameters in one operating step, in order toallocate the same to one or several external components 29. Theallocation of the welding parameters for the external components 29 isstored in the welding apparatus 1 by the control and/or evaluationdevice 4 so as to be permanently available to the user and enable achange of said allocation at any time.

Basically, it should be mentioned that the data exchange between thewelding apparatus 1 and the external components 29 is effected via usualsystems, for instance via control lines, optical fibers, bus systems orby radio. In order to be able to realize a flexible allocation, it isnecessary that the control and/or evaluation device 4 carries out asuitable evaluation of the incoming signals from the external components29 and these signals are allocated to the respective welding parameterssuch that the control and/or evaluation device 4 will subsequently beable to effect a change of the deposited value or set value so as toenable this change to be displayed on the external component 29 too.

It is, thus, feasible for the user to carry out a variable allocation ofdifferent welding parameters to external components without requiring anaccordingly trained personnel.

1. A method for setting a parameter for external operating units of awelding apparatus, wherein the welding parameters are selectable andsettable using different operating elements and display elementsprovided on the welding apparatus, characterized in that a controlprogram is invoked in the welding apparatus and the selected weldingparameter for setting or adjustment is thereby selectively allocated toan external operating unit provided on an external component, such thatsaid welding parameter is set or changed upon activation or adjustmentof the external operating unit provided on the external component.
 2. Amethod according to claim 1, wherein the control program is invoked viaan operating element provided on the welding apparatus and the weldingparameter is allocated to the external operating unit provided on theexternal component by the renewed activation of an operating elementprovided on the welding apparatus.
 3. A method according to claim 1,wherein several welding parameters are allocated to several externaloperating units provided on one or several external components.
 4. Amethod according to claim 1, wherein the allocations of the weldingparameters to the external operating units of the external componentsprovided in the welding apparatus are preferably stored by a controland/or evaluation device.
 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein anevaluation of the signals received from the external operating units ofthe external components is effected by the control and/or evaluationdevice of the welding apparatus, and these signals are allocated to therespective welding parameters and changed accordingly.
 6. A methodaccording to claim 1, wherein any changes of the external operatingunits of the external component are transmitted to the welding apparatusvia control lines, optical fibers, bus systems or by radio.